Hannah Sheppard @YA_Books · 6d
Maz Evans @MaryAliceEvans
Thinking about the response to my royalty tweet, and @nikeshshukla's research that the mysteries of the publishing process are creating barriers, here is a very general guide to the trad pub model from an author's perspective. Contracts vary, these are broad strokes, stay calm...This is a great thread for new/hopeful authors re the payment structures in traditional publishing...#amwriting #submissions #askagent Thanks @MaryAliceEvans
Sam Byers @byers90
As a side note if I never hear the words “query letter”, “pitch”, “comp titles”, “approach” or “bio” again I’d be perfectly happy with that. Why not abandon all those things completely.Completely agree @byers90.
I am not interested in any of this. I only pay attention to the actual writing from the writer.
(I really, really don't like being called "Dear Sir" though - by anyone under any context. Nothing to do with publishing.)
#AskAgent
Jennifer Laughran @literaticat · Jul 1
Lots of times people ask "why do chapter books seem to always be series" so I wrote down everything I know on the topic! #chapterbooks #askagent
literaticat.tumblr.com/post/622449862…
Lina Langlee @LinaLanglee · Jul 1
Angela C-M @AKCM30510837
@jounwin Hi Jo and team. Do you think that’s there’s still a place for ‘quiet’ dramas? Mine is a dual narrative family drama set in 1938 and 2017 and that’s the kind of thing I like to read but it’s not very ‘trendy’ these days! #askagentI personally think dual narrative family dramas are a bit of an evergreen so I wouldn't worry about it! If it also features secrets -oh, and if it happens to be set somewhere remote and grand, I am basically sold.
#askagent
Lina Langlee @LinaLanglee · Jul 1
Michael Handrick @MichaelHandrick
#askagent, I’ve heard from a few writer friends that they had agents say they love the submission but don’t sign the author. What may be reasons behind this?Several reasons: it could be that they represent something too similar, that they just don't think they'd be able to sell it, that their lists are very full, or that it's in an area they don't really work.
#askagent
Lina Langlee @LinaLanglee · Jul 1
Ms Barney Harper @MsBarneyHarper
How do I choose an agent for my non-fiction book? Does it have to be complete? How do I find which agent represented a similar book in my genre. #AskAgentDo some research. The Writers & Artists yearbook and websites like Jericho Writers are great resources.
Non-fiction doesn't always have to be finished but you would need a clear outline and sample chapters.
#askagent
Juliet Mushens @mushenska · Jul 1
Cesca Major (C.D.Major) @CescaMajor
@mushenska @MyRejections I remember thanking you for your rejection on a book that was later published. You were kind enough to then offer to re-read if I did work on it. It was so encouraging so I was pretty pleased I didn't reply, 'screw you Mushens I'm the next JK!' #justsayin #AskAgentYes worth remembering that a no for that book doesn’t mean a no for the next one! Several of my clients had projects I had passed on before the one I signed them for #askagent
Juliet Mushens @mushenska · Jul 1
The Columnist @Sime0nStylites
@jounwin @mushenska @MyRejections A related question, out of curiosity, when you’re reading a submission how quickly do you tend to get a sense for whether it’s potentially really interesting (ie read on) or regretfully perhaps move on?I read as much as I need to! Sometimes that can be the pitch letter before realising it isn’t for me, sometimes it can be 50pp before I realise the writing doesn’t work, or the concept isn’t strong enough etc #askagent
Juliet Mushens @mushenska · Jul 1
Victoria Benstead-Hume @victoriahume
Afternoon! I write YA Sci-Fi. I've been told there's more market for that in the USA, do you think that's the case and therefore would it be better to submit overseas as well as to UK agents? Thanks! #askagentYes you certainly can try both markets #askagent
Juliet Mushens @mushenska · Jul 1
Feargus Woods Dunlop @thisactorslife
How do you strike the balance between already having something too similar & it being too far out of your remit/interests? #AskAgentI would say that I represent books in the same genre for sure but the pitch can’t be too close. So two novels which are thrillers set in Cornwall, fine, two novels which are thrillers set in Cornwall where a nun is the detective - not fine #askagent
Lina Langlee @LinaLanglee · Jul 1
Rebecca E Roberts @BeckyERoberts
#AskAgent If you're approached by someone who has already been published, would you check out their previous work, or is your decision based entirely on the MS submitted?The decision would be based purely on what is in front of me but, if interested, I would check out previous books - both because it would be relevant if pitching and because I'm nosey! 🕵️♀️
#askagent
Juliet Mushens @mushenska · Jul 1
Ben Edge @bnedge
#AskAgent If I’ve previously submitted to a few agents, and based on feedback have gone back and changed the book entirely (setting, time period, title, pretty much everything except the core themes and structure) would I be able to resubmit to agents previously submitted to?Not usually, but certainly try new people! #askagent
Juliet Mushens @mushenska · Jul 1
Elizabeth Frattaroli @ELIZFRAT
Do you prefer your authors to have a brand and stick to one genre/target age range, or would you encourage people to try and diversify once they are established? (I'm thinking particularly of YA writers at present, as I know some have been asked to write up or down) #askagentIf I sign someone for a novel in X genre, I know it's likely that the publisher will want to build them in that area - readers tend to be loyal to genre rather than author, unless they are successfully established already. However, you can diversify with pen names etc #AskAgent
Lina Langlee @LinaLanglee · Jul 1
May Ngo @mayngo2
@julietpickering @ESAlexander4 Hello, how much should you have of your manuscript done before querying an agent? Should it definitely be completed? #askagentIf you are writing fiction I'd say you should definitely have the whole book written and edited. Few things are more disappointing than requesting something based on a brilliant sample and then have to wait 6 months to read the rest. You lose momentum.
#askagent
May Ngo @mayngo2
@julietpickering @ESAlexander4 Hello, how much should you have of your manuscript done before querying an agent? Should it definitely be completed? #askagentIf you're writing fiction you should have the whole book ready, and not just in first draft. #AskAgent
Juliet Mushens @mushenska · Jul 1
Linda @lindcai
@julietpickering @mushenska @jounwin I found Spread the Word's diversity report an interesting read. What are your experiences of taking on/pitching novels by BAME writers? I'm Asian & so excited to see more Asian writers being published but wonder what my chances are realistically. Many thanks :) #AskAgentI am very eager to find more ownvoices novels - and I'd say I have a pretty strong hit rate in placing those clients with publishers #AskAgent
Lina Langlee @LinaLanglee · Jul 1
David Barker @BlueGold201
@jounwin Voice, setting, plot. Please rank in order of importance when receiving a submission. Thanks #AskAgentI'd agree with Jo and want all three. If I ABSOLUTELY had to pick (cruel) voice would be the most important to me. Plot and setting is easier to edit.
#askagent
Juliet Mushens @mushenska · Jul 1
MyRejections @MyRejections
Why do increasing amounts of agents just not get back to writers at all, despite their website promises? Excluding the lovely & polite agents replying to this hashtag of course...#askagent
myrejections.com/post/unsolicit…
I do respond to every submission, which is a time-consuming process. However, it can be quite painful to take the time to read & respond and then receive a snarky, mean spirited reply: my rejection is never intended personally, whereas people often take them that way. #AskAgent
Rebecca E Roberts @BeckyERoberts
#AskAgent If you're approached by someone who has already been published, would you check out their previous work, or is your decision based entirely on the MS submitted?I'd check out the submission, and if I was interested I'd have a look at their previous publications #AskAgent